Civilian helps police apprehend suspect
A man assisted officers in a foot chase after the suspect fled the crash.
Published May 4, 2010
A civilian assisted police officers on a foot chase near Business Loop 70 in Columbia.
On April 28, a traffic officer saw a vehicle driving through a turn lane without turning, passing multiple cars that were in the appropriate lanes, Columbia Police Department spokeswoman Jessie Haden said.
The officer attempted to pull over the car, but the driver turned onto West Boulevard, struck the curb and stopped.
"The driver got out of the car and began to run away," Haden said. "Our officer pulled behind the car and the passenger exited the vehicle."
Derrick Young, the driver, ran behind the Kabuki Japanese Restaurant at 1100 I-70 West, ran around the restaurant and began to run west again, Haden said. Officers instructed him to get on the ground, but he did not comply.
Young then ran onto the grassy area near the Chevy's Fresh Mex restaurant while the passenger took off running through the parking lot.
"Our officer saw a citizen telling the person to get on the ground," Haden said. "It looks like the citizen actually apprehended him. The driver complied and we got him in handcuffs."
The citizen who assisted police officers was not harmed.
"(Young) probably figured it was time to stop resisting at that point," Haden said.
Haden said officers found a partially smoked blunt on the floorboard of the car, individually wrapped bags of marijuana and a loaded gun in the glove box. Young had over $600 in his wallet, Haden said.
Officers also called animal control because there was a puppy in the car.
Young was arrested on charges of resisting arrest, unlawful use of a weapon, distribution of a controlled substance and careless driving. The passenger, Joe Riley Jr. was arrested on charges of resisting arrest, distribution of a controlled substance and unlawful use of a weapon.